The search for golden treasure has captivated the minds of some of history’s greatest explorers and most ambitious spirits. Whether it be the call of the California Gold Rush or the fabled City of Gold, the promise of an adventure, a search, and a capture of elusive gems and stones propels our imaginations daily. While our desire to find the golden nugget has not changed, our tools have.
The best pinpointer for small gold is the Garrett Pro-Pointer AT, nicknamed the Garrett Carrotâ€, however, Minelab makes a close second. These, as well as a few other honorable mentions, allow for treasure hunters to search for gold with ease and precision like never before.
Below we will present a list of 5 highly regarded gold detector pinpointers so that you can get on your way to treasure hunting.
Price. Whether you are a pro or amateur gold digger (the good kind!), price is on your mind. There is a gold pinpointer for both those on a budget and for those with a little more leeway.
Frequency and range. The frequency and range of a detector are closely related. A high-frequency gold detector is like a super compact memory foam pillow, tracking the slightest imprint — and finding the smallest nugget of gold. A low-frequency detector will not have as much sensitivity, meaning it will only pick up bigger objects but will go deeper in the ground.
Popularity. While there may be some excellent pinpointers that few have never heard about, we have to stick to what we know. This means only selecting those that have been well tried, well tested, and gained recognition for their performance.
A revitalized variant of the “25†version, the PRO-FIND 35 costs around $130. While the price may be a bit more than others, the 35 comes equipped with a number of significant features.
On top of being waterproof up to 10ft (roughly 3 meters), the 35 also has audio/vibration settings if you do not want to hear the beeping sound. It also gives off different signals for whether a find will be “junk†versus valuable metals.
The most distinct specialty of the Minelab PRO-FIND 35 is that it comes with adjustable sensitivities. It allows for 5 different frequency options that give you maximal flexibility for finding treasure.
It also comes with a few accessories, including a holster and lanyard, LED light, and is powered by a 9-volt battery. It also has an alarm that goes off if left alone for too long so you don’t lose it.
Garrett Pro-Pointer AT (“Garrett Carrotâ€)
The most heralded pointer on the market, it even has its own nickname. The Garrett sits at $130 too and shares almost every feature with the PRO-FIND 35. The Garrett has many features, including:
3 different levels of sensitivity detection
waterproof up to 10ft
lets off a sound if it has been left alone for 5-minutes or more
automatically turns off after an hour of no use
The Garrett also includes the necessary accessories of a holster and lanyard and is powered by an alkaline 9-volt battery which lasts up to 30 hours. It is secured by a 2-year warranty.
It is also operated by one big button that holds all its features and, though it can be challenging to get the hang of, it provides a versatile, simple method for switching up the settings.
The Nokta Pinpointer is the cheapest pointer on the list, sitting right under $85. Like the Garrett and the PRO-FIND, it also has an alarm after being unattended and will automatically shut off after not being used for a time.
It is waterproof up to a meter deep, and also has sensitivity adjustments, a light, and comes with a 2-year warranty.
The Falcon MD20 is one of the most powerful state-of-the-art metal detecting pinpointers that you can find! Although expensive if your searching for gold this is the pinpointer for you. If there is gold even a tiny amount in the area that you are searching the MD20 will surely pick it up with its high 300 kHz frequency. It’s not the most accessible or convenient pinpointer to carry around because the probe plugs into a control box in order to work. So you won’t just be whipping this thing off your belt to quickly probe the area.
Top Features of the Falcon MD20
Waterproof up to 5′
High 300 kHz frequency
Adjustable Sensitivity
Built-in Speaker and Headphone jack
Target Alert
Ground balancing
So if you want to get into areas that you normally couldn’t with a traditional pinpointer then the Falcon MD20 is for you.
The second cheapest pointer on this list, sitting right at $90, the Deteknix XPointer has all the basics you need for a reliable pointer. It has both audio or vibration indicators for when a signal for gold (or other metals) is picked up on.
The Deteknix also has a frequency of 95 kHz, which is considered high — and is also the highest on the list — making it ideal for searching out little bits of gold. The pointer is also equipped with a built-in LED flashlight, a serrated grip etched on the handle and is powered by a 9-volt battery. It is also protected by a 1-year warranty.
So, Which One Is The Best?
If we are being completely honest with ourselves, any of these 5 should do the job for gold hunting and should do it well. All of these pointers are specifically designed to detect little bits of valuable metals with great precision. Most of them also have adjustable sensitivity, making them adaptable to many different environments.
If we are looking at just the price tag, both the Nokta and the Deteknix capture our attention, both under $90. The Deteknix is the only one that comes with a 1-year warranty, however (as opposed to the 2-year that the rest have).
All 5 of them are pretty competitive when it comes to frequency and range due to the adjustable sensitivity, so there is no clear winner there.
When it comes to reputation, however, Garrett is the clear winner — with the PRO-Finder 35 not being far behind. Garrett has been praised for its versatility and durability. It’s a toss-up between the Garrett and the 35 for the overall “bestâ€.
All things considered, think about how much time you are going to be spending, whether gold-hunting will be simply a side hobby or something more serious. If you are going to be spending a lot of time out in the dirt, sand, and water looking for gold, then $130 is not much in the grand scheme of things.
Is a Pinpointer The Same as a Metal Detector?
Yes, and no. A pinpointer is a metal detector, but it gets its name by allowing for better precision when searching for metals. A general metal detector will usually only signal a vague or large area in which metal is to be found.
A pinpointer is a more precise, mobile version of a general metal detector. General metal detectors should be more powerful, however, as they are significantly larger and more expensive.
A Note On Frequency & Small Gold
To reiterate the importance of frequency stated earlier, pinpointers are especially good at finding little bits of gold. Any metal detector worth its weight can find the large chunks of metal, but fortunes are rarely made upon a literal goldmine. Finding a goldmine is winning the lottery of treasure hunting.
But if we are talking gold, particularly bits of gold, then a high-frequency detector or pointer is where you want to put your money. Any of the above on our list should help you out, although the Garrett Carrot is definitely our favorite.
Whether you are on the hunt for El Dorado, or a missing gold ring, arm yourself with a great pinpointer and let the adventure begin!
If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you and until next time Happy Treasure Hunting!
Author: Cory Haasnoot
Cory Haasnoot is an author, entrepreneur, metal detecting enthusiast, antique, coin collector, and founder of Treasure Seekr.
